The Quest to Find My Dream Red-Orange

Greetings! Recently I have been on a self-imposed quest to find a red-orange or orange-red to be the successor to my Warm Red Throne. For the longest time my warm red spot has been filled by the discontinued version of Transparent Pyrrol Orange PO71 by Daniel Smith from before 2019. A gorgeous red-orange that clicked with everything I love. Alas, its reign will soon be at an end, and a successor must be found. To read more about the discontinued pigment check out my previous post Celebrating My Favourite (Discontinued) Warm Red.

I thought I’d give you an update on what I have been testing so far, and how that has been going. My ideal scenario is to find a single pigment solution, but a two-pigment hue of my own mixing is also a possibility. I am aware that I will not find an exact replacement. Instead I am focusing on finding a solution that has qualities I love, and allows me to mix in a similar way as before. Even if it isn’t exactly the same in every way, I’m looking for a similar feeling when painting with it. Very subjective, I know, but subjectivity factors into most artists’ pigment choices eventually!

The current pigment contenders

Currently my tests have been revolving around two orange pigments: the more orange not-discontinued PO71 and the elusive PO107. Both have similar hues, being more on the mid-orange to slightly red-orange side.

The PO71 I have gone for is Pyrrole Orange by MarimeriBlu. A transparent pigment with excellent lightfastness.

The PO107 I have been experimenting with has been a sample sent by a wonderful friend. A generous pan of Transparent Orange by Winsor and Newton. Also transparent with excellent lightfastness.

While I have done some initial tests with both, my in-depth efforts have been focused on PO107 first. The sample has been enough for me to do a large 9 by 12 inch illustration focusing on PO107 in a limited palette - while still having plenty of paint spare for further tests. Check out the finished illustration below.

I used a limited palette of five watercolour pigments (not counting white gouache):

• Transparent Orange PO107

• Perylene Violet PV29

• Indanthrone Blue PB60

• Nickel Azo Yellow PY150

• Quinacridone Rose PV19

Elven Time (working title), 2025. Watercolour, colour pencil, white gouache (9 by 12 inches).

Pigment explorations: qualities, colour mixing, and finished illustrations

I’ll be putting together “Pigment Exploration” posts and videos for both the Transparent Orange PO107 and Pyrrole Orange PO71. I’m trying to be as thorough with them as possible by including pigment tests (glazing, lifting, etc.), colour mixing with my favourite pigments, and at least one finished illustration or painting heavily featuring the pigment. That’s a lot, but I like to gather a rounded view of a supply!

I don’t always do a finished piece before sharing the pigment explorations, but I’m currently dedicated to doing so for this quest. Why? It’s partly because I’m trying to choose a replacement for an important spot on my palette, rather than just learning about a new pigment for fun. I really want to know them inside out to make an educated choice. I can also refer back to all the posts as a way to lay out all my choices near the end.

However, it’s also because the more I’ve been diving into this quest, the more fun I’m having. Which is quite funny, because I’ve always been a purple and blue girl. If you told me I’d be this invested in exploring the orange to red colour range five years ago I would be baffled.

I’ll leave you here for now. The first Pigment Exploration will be for Transparent Orange PO107 with pigment tests and colour mixing charts. I’ll go into more detail about the colour mixing and painting experience of the above illustration in that post/video too. Keep your eyes peeled!